Speaking during a Meet-the-Press session on Thursday, the Minister buttressed his point by indicating that, some of the notable reports of infrastructure deficit, were in schools with fewer students than the capacity on record.

He cited Vitting SHS in Tamale and La Presbyterian SHS in Accra, where infrastructural challenges were brought to light by Citi News.

La Presby SHS first years were seen studying on cement blocks in uncompleted classrooms, whilst students of Vitting SHS were sleeping on verandas and under trees because of pressure on their limited infrastructure.

La Presby SHS has since benefitted from desks donated by McDan Shipping and the La Dadekotopon Assembly, whilst the Northern Regional Minister has been to Vitting SHS on a fact-finding mission.

But for these two schools in particular, Dr. Opoku Prempeh said their headmasters had even requested more students but were given less, and so the government could not be blamed for the pressure on their facilities.

“There is one particular school, Vitting, that the Head’s letter to us requested 533 students. As at now, 517 students are enrolled. How did we [the government] or free SHS cause congestion in Vitting. The Head said he could accommodate 533. As we speak, it is not 533 that have registered but 517. But Vitting is reported as free SHS causing congestion. ”

For La Presby, he recalled that the school’s administration “asked for 607. As we speak, it is 533 in that school. But La Presby has been touted as the poster boy of Free SHS… is it Free SHS that has caused that problem in La Presby?” the minister questioned.

Infrastructure relief for schools

This notwithstanding, the government has already put in place measures to alleviate these challenges as an amount of Ghc80 million cedis has been allocated to address the challenges relating to furniture and beds.

President Nana Akufo-Addo recently announced that contracts will soon be awarded for the provision of 69,500 single desks and 13,100 bunk beds to Senior High Schools across the country.

“…so those that have brought the list, we have done tenders and we will be buying them and supplying them to the schools. But I sincerely believe that if the government is determined to do this, A child should still have access to the school to study and learn than to be thrown on the street at the age of 15,” Dr. Opoku Prempeh said.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Congestion, infrastructure deficit not entirely a Free SHS problem – NAPO appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, today [Friday] visited the school on a fact-finding mission.

This followed a Citi News report of the dire situation of some students sleeping in the open due to inadequate dormitories.

According to Salifu Saeed, the government was alarmed by the reportage, hence his visit.

He assured the authorities that government will allocate enough GETfund projects to the school.

He promised the school a fence wall to prevent encroachment and to guarantee the students’ maximum security.

He reiterated government’s commitment to solving the myriad of challenges associated with the implementation of the free Senior High School programme.

He urged parents and guardians to take advantage of the free SHS programme and educate their children.

Salifu Saeed further promised to get Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to solve the water crisis in the school.

Assistant Headmaster in charge of Academics, Abdul Mumin Hudu, commended the Regional Minister for the visit.

He outlined inadequate dormitories and classroom blocks, water crisis and the lack of a fence wall as some of the major challenges hampering academic work.

He recalled that the school has since late President John Evans Atta Mills’ administration, not witnessed any face-lift.

Abdul Mumuni Hudu emphasized the need for government’s rapid response to the school’s situation.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Gov’t moves to address ‘sleeping under trees’ at Vitting SHS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They were accosted by the school’s Cadet Corps led by the Senior House Mistress upon a tip-off, and handed over to the police.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hyfZWW4FUnr345Cy4ndFCIe01C5tSbf4″]This happened 10 hours ahead of a Citi News report about inadequate dormitories compelling some of the male students to sleep under trees, whilst some female students sleep in the compound of the overcrowded dormitory.

Sleeping in the compound makes them vulnerable to recalcitrant men from outside who often sneak in there to take advantage of the situation.

The unfenced single girls dormitory block is isolated from the main compound on the north-eastern corridor of the school.

Some of the traumatized female students raised concerns about their insecurity at night, and called for adequate security measures.

They also appealed to the government to fence the entire school and expand infrastructure there.

The school’s Preps prefect, Abdul Mumin Imoro, who doubles as a member of the Cadet Corps, said they have intensified their night patrols, particularly around the girls’ dormitory block.

The school’s authorities have since remained tight-lipped on the dire situation there, which requires immediate attention.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 2 men arrested at Vitting SHS trying to sneak into girls’ dorm appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This situation has compelled some school authorities across the country to convert dining halls and in some cases classroom blocks into dormitories, to accommodate beneficiaries of the programme.

Tamale Vitting Senior High School in the Northern Region is one of such schools where students are compelled to sleep under trees, on the veranda of the school library and in classrooms.

It is one of the most densely populated second cycle institutions in the Tamale Metropolis, located off the Tamale-Yendi Highway.

With a population of 1,400 boarding students, the school has only five overcrowded and dilapidated dormitories, comprising four for male and one for female students.

The overcrowded boys’ dormitories namely Dakpema,  Vitting, Nkrumah and Gbewaa, have cracked walls, leaked roofing and broken windows.

The implementation of the free SHS has worsened the situation compelling final year students to sacrifice their beds for some beneficiaries of the programme.

Those sleeping in the open are exposed to mosquitoes, and other reptiles coupled with the dusty and moist harmattan weather.

The female students share beds, while some sleep on the bare floor.

Some of the frustrated students in a Citi News interview, cried for help, saying, “Our school lacks dormitories, classroom blocks,  entertainment and dining halls. Government should help us.”

“Our dining hall is meant for eating, but some of us are sleeping there and even in the school  Mosque. Our dining  hall, we go there in batches to eat.”

“We are appealing to the highest authorities to come to our aid,  we are suffering.”

The school shares boundaries with Ghana Senior High School (Ghanasco), and the Dabokpa Secondary/Technical school.

The dire situation at Tamale Vitting Senior High School, comes to the fore few days after Citi News reported about how students of Three Town Senior High School in Denu, Volta Region, now resort to makeshift classrooms under trees, to host students for lessons due to the lack suitable classroom facilities.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Vitting SHS students ‘sleeping under trees’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Source: Huffingtonpost

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